Man shot, two arrested, at Julian gold mine

JULIAN  The caretaker of a Julian gold mine property was arrested on suspicion of shooting an acquaintance Thursday, and investigators were trying to figure out why it happened.

The 44-year-old victim, suffering a gunshot that passed through his chest from one shoulder into the other, ran about a mile downhill to the Banner Grade Road, where a passing motorist saw him and stopped to help, sheriff’s officials said.

The good Samaritan called 911 and drove the victim, a Julian resident, to a nearby fire station about 9 a.m. The wounded man was airlifted by medical helicopter to Palomar Medical Center.

He told a deputy he knew the first name of the man who shot him, but he didn’t know why, sheriff’s Lt. Rosemarie Kurupas said.

She said deputies headed to the 49-acre Kentuck Mine Complex on BLM land off state Route 78 and found the shooting suspect and his girlfriend. Both were taken into custody about 9:50 a.m.

James Roberson, 27, was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. Jennifer Minor, 40, was jailed on suspicion of conspiracy.

Early search efforts at the house and trailer on the property failed to turn up a firearm, Sgt. Tom Poulin said.

He said the victim and the two suspects were the only ones there at the time of the shooting.

“We have no idea what this was about,” Poulin said. “The suspect said there is still an active gold mine there. But we don’t think they had a feud or anything.”

Kurupas said the gunshot, possibly from a .22-caliber weapon, entered the victim's left shoulder and traveled through his upper chest, then lodged in his right shoulder. She said he is expected to survive.